Children’s publishing house builds on history of success (June 10, 2005)

Established in 1957 during the anti-US resistance war, the Kim Dong Publishing House managed to overcome wartime difficulties to print good literary works for children such as the poetry collection Goc san va khoang troi (The playground corner and the sky) by Tran Dang Khoa and the novel Dat rung phuong Nam (Southern land and forest) by Doan Gioi. These books continue to conquer the hearts of generations of young Vietnamese readers today.

Examples and lessons about patriotism and human love have seduced millions of children. They can admire the young national hero, Tran Quoc Toan, who undauntedly fought foreign invaders in the 13th century, or be moved by the humanity reflected in stories translated from Russian literary. These works have encouraged patriotism among generations of Vietnamese pioneers during the anti-US war of resistance. At the time, the Kim Dong Publishing House’s books were passed from person to person with special care.

Currently, as society develops, the spiritual lives of children are better cared for. Densely typed books printed on smeared paper have been replaced by lively and colourfully illustrated publications.

"I like reading comic books from the Kim Dong Publishing House, especially stories about the history of Vietnam," said sixth grader Hoang Ngoc Ha, who is a loyal reader of Kim Dong books. "Every week, my parents give me money to buy new books, which help me in my studies."

Every Sunday, six-year-old Nguyen Kim Anh, who lives on the outskirts of Hanoi, is taken downtown by her father to buy more new books. She particularly likes fairy tales.

"I bought books for my daughter when she was only two years old and now she can read stories to us," her farther said. "The Kim Dong Publishing House is a reliable address for young book lovers.

Kim Dong books are available not only in big cities but also in remote mountainous islands and areas across the country. They have long been a close friend of Vietnamese children.

Le Thi Dat, deputy director and editor-in-chief of the Publishing House, said Kim Dong is the only publishing house in Vietnam that publishes books for children. Every year, the house prints more than 16 million copies of 1,200 book titles covering all subjects and it is trying its best to cater for children’s tastes.